British author JK Rowling, creator of the best-selling Harry Potter novels, on Tuesday accepted a new Danish literary prize named after writer Hans Christian Andersen, DPA reported.
In her acceptance speech, Rowling paid tribute to Andersen, who lived from 1805-1875, saying he "created indestructible, eternal characters: The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen and The Naked Emperor."
"Andersen understood that writing for children does not mean 'pureeing' what one would have written for adults; it ought not to be bland or soppy or devoid of challenging ingredients," she added.
In addition to the prize check worth 500,000 kroner (93,000 dollars), the inaugural Hans Christiansen Andersen Literature Prize includes a bronze sculpture of The Ugly Duckling.
The prize was created to honour authors who write in the tradition or spirit of Andersen.
The ceremony was held in Odense where Andersen was born, and coincided with the city's annual Harry Potter Festival.
Since 1956 another more well-known literary prize, the Hans Christian Andersen Award, is also awarded to an author of children's books.